5 Things You Didn't Know About Pit Bulls

Pit Bulls Get A Bad Rap - Here's Why It's Time To Change Our Minds About Them

5. Pit Bull Laws Side With The Injured

Each state has its own laws regarding vicious dogs. For instance, Rhode Island law indicates that a person injured by a dog attack can recover damages from the owner if he proves that it was the owner's negligence that caused the injury. In West Virginia, if it is proven that the owner had knowledge of his dog's violent propensity, he is strictly liable, meaning he's financially responsible for all damages.

In extreme cases, a negligent owner can even go to jail for failing to look after their dog properly. One such case occurred on June 10, 2000, in Brown County, Indiana, when a census worker was attacked and killed by a pack of 18 dogs. The couple that owned the pack was charged in a wrongful death suit; the wife was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in jail, and the husband to three.

Nuances in state law may relieve owners from responsibility. For example, if a dog attacks someone who is trespassing on the owner's property, liability may be removed from the owner. Those who care for pit bulls must be aware of state laws in order to protect themselves. Even in non-violent cases, scared neighbors have been known to circulate petitions to rid their blocks of "dangerous" dogs, and more than a few of these petitions have evolved into lawsuits.

What do you think? Is it time for pit bulls to be more accepted, or are they too dangerous? Let us know in the comments!